Do you sell stocks when they are high or low?

Asked by: Prof. Ferne Brown DVM  |  Last update: April 13, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (8 votes)

When To Sell And Take A Loss. According to IBD founder William O'Neil's rule in "How to Make Money in Stocks," you should sell a stock when you are down 7% or 8% from your purchase price, no exceptions. Having a rule in place ahead of time can help prevent an emotional decision to hang on too long.

Should you sell stock when the price is low or high?

  • You should buy high and hope to sell higher, never buy at the very low and hope to sell high.
  • If you buy at all time low you are hoping for a turnaround situation, this may be OK if you have an edge compare to the market.
  • Stock that is at all time high can go even higher, stock that is lower can go even lower.

Do you sell stocks when they are high?

Deciding to sell stock at its all-time high depends on your financial goals and market outlook. If reaching the all-time high makes you achieve your investment objectives or if you believe the stock might decline soon, selling could be a good idea. However, consider factors like long-term potential and market trends.

Should I sell my stocks if they are down?

No, it is generally not a good idea to sell all your stocks during a crash. It is important to remember that stock prices are likely to rebound over time, so selling all your stocks during a crash may mean missing out on future opportunities to make money.

At what point should you sell a stock?

Investors should aim to sell a stock after it experiences considerable growth and before it decreases in value. It is difficult to predict when a stock will start decreasing in value, but economic conditions and news reports can be good predictors.

Stock Market Buy Low Sell High: Is It That Easy?

28 related questions found

At what profit should I sell a stock?

The 20%-25% Profit-Taking Rule in Action.

What is the 3-5-7 rule in stocks?

The 3 5 7 rule works on a simple principle: never risk more than 3% of your trading capital on any single trade; limit your overall exposure to 5% of your capital on all open trades combined; and ensure your winning trades are at least 7% more profitable than your losing trades.

At what percentage drop should you sell a stock?

A common rule of thumb is to cut losses at around 10% below your purchase price. This way, if a stock turns out to be a poor performer, you're limiting the damage it can do to your portfolio.

When to exit a stock?

You should be looking to exit a stock trade when a price trend breaks down. This is supported by technical analysis and emphasises that investors should exit regardless of the value of the trade. It is recommended that you go back to the initial reasons for entering the trade.

Should I buy stocks when they are low or high?

The best time to buy a stock is when an investor has done their research and due diligence, and decided that the investment fits their overall strategy. With that in mind, buying a stock when it is down may be a good idea – and better than buying a stock when it is high.

At what age should you get out of the stock market?

The reality is that stocks do have market risk, but even those of you close to retirement or retired should stay invested in stocks to some degree in order to benefit from the upside over time. If you're 65, you could have two decades or more of living ahead of you and you'll want that potential boost.

Do you pay taxes on stocks if you sell at a loss?

Selling a stock for profit locks in "realized gains," which will be taxed. However, you won't be taxed anything if you sell stock at a loss. In fact, it may even help your tax situation — this is a strategy known as tax-loss harvesting. Note, however, that if you receive dividends, you will have to pay taxes on those.

How long should you hold a stock for?

How long must you hold a stock before selling? Ideally, hold a stock until it meets your financial goals or circumstances change. However, waiting at least one year can reduce capital gains taxes and maximise growth potential, especially in stable, long-term investments.

Should you sell stocks when they are up?

If you don't sell too early, you'll sell too late. To lock in solid gains, sell while your stock is still going up. As IBD founder William J. O'Neil has said, "Your objective is to make and take significant gains and not get excited, optimistic, greedy, or emotionally carried away as your stock's advance gets stronger.

How do I cash out my shares?

Stocks can be cashed out by selling them through a broker on a stock exchange. Selling stocks can provide cash for major expenses or to reinvest in other assets.

Why do people buy stocks high and sell low?

Cutting Losses Short: One of the most important principles in trend following is to cut losses before they get too big. If a trend follower buys into a particular market and it starts to drop, they sell it to prevent a small loss from becoming a big one.

At what point should you be ready to sell a stock?

Many investors use price targets to determine when to sell a stock. These investors typically determine a price range for when to sell the stock at the time of purchase. As a stock price rises, they can begin selling the position once it reaches the price target range.

What is the 20-25 sell rule?

According to the 20%-25% profit-taking rule, your profit-taking range is still based on the ideal buy point ($120-$125), not the actual buy point ($122.4-$127.5). Therefore, if you exit your position when the stock price reaches the profit-taking range, your actual profit would be around 17.65%-22.55%.

How do you know when to exit the market?

The decision to exit a large-cap stock should be based on reaching or nearing your financial goal. Even if your target timeframe is 1-3 years away, achieving around 90% of your goal could signal a good time to consider selling. This approach is based on the potential volatility of the equity market.

What is the 7% loss rule?

The 7% stop loss rule is a rule of thumb to place a stop loss order at about 7% or 8% below the buy order for any new position.

When should you cash out stocks?

Here's a rundown of five scenarios that can justify selling a stock:
  1. Your investment thesis has changed. ...
  2. The company is being acquired. ...
  3. You need the money or soon will. ...
  4. You need to rebalance your portfolio. ...
  5. You identify opportunities to better invest your money elsewhere.

What is the 8% sell rule?

You should sell a stock when you are down 7% or 8% from your purchase price. For example, let's say you bought Company A's stock at $100 per share. According to the 7%-8% sell rule, you should sell the shares if the price drops to $93 or $92.

What is the 11am rule in stocks?

The "11 am rule" refers to a guideline often followed by day traders, suggesting that they should avoid making significant trades during the first hour of trading, particularly until after 11 am Eastern Time.

What is the golden rule of stock?

2.1 First Golden Rule: 'Buy what's worth owning forever'

This rule tells you that when you are selecting which stock to buy, you should think as if you will co-own the company forever.

What is the 70 20 10 rule in stocks?

The 70:20:10 rule helps safeguard SIPs by allocating 70% to low-risk, 20% to medium-risk, and 10% to high-risk investments, ensuring stability, balanced growth, and high returns while managing market fluctuations.